title: An evidence based approach to undergraduate physical assessment practicum course development.
abstract: Physical assessment is an important component of professional nursing practice. New nurse graduates experience difficulty transitioning the traditional head to toe physical assessment into real world nursing practice. This study was conducted to provide current data concerning physical assessment competencies utilized consistently by registered nurses. This quantitative study used a 126 item survey mailed to 900 Registered Nurses. Participants used a Likert-type scale to report frequency of use for physical assessment competencies. Thirty seven competencies were determined to be essential components of the physical assessment, 18 were determined supplemental, and 71 were determined to be non-essential. Transition of the new graduate nurse into professional practice can be enhanced by focusing content in physical assessment practicum courses on the essential competencies of physical assessment. Faculty for the university has analyzed data from this study to support evidence based changes to the undergraduate nursing program physical assessment practicum course.
authors.affiliation: Arkansas State University, School of Nursing, Jonesboro, AR, USA; St. Bernards Medical Center, Jonesboro, AR, USA. Electronic address: banderson@astate.edu.
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Arkansas State University, School of Nursing, Jonesboro, AR, USA; St. Bernards Medical Center, Jonesboro, AR, USA. Electronic address: enix@astate.edu.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nix
authors.affiliation: Arkansas State University, School of Nursing, Jonesboro, AR, USA; Northeast Arkansas Baptist Health Systems, Jonesboro, AR, USA. Electronic address: bnorman@astate.edu.
authors.forename: Bilinda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.affiliation: Arkansas State University, School of Nursing, Jonesboro, AR, USA; University of Arkansas, Medical School Arkansas Commission on Child Abuse, Rape, and Domestic Violence, Little Rock, AR, USA; Investigative Medical LLC., Jonesboro, AR, USA. Electronic address: hmcpike@astate.edu.
authors.forename: H Dawn
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: McPike
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001131:Arkansas; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing*; D016730:Program Development
keywords: Assessment; Examination; Physical; Practicum